Elihu Thomson and Edwin Rice: Electrical pioneers of General Electric

A rare 1932 film interview provides historical insight into the lives of Elihu Thomson and Edwin Rice, two foundational figures of General Electric. The recording, captured during the Great Depression, features the two lifelong friends and electrical pioneers discussing Thomson’s career and personal experiences.

Thomson, an English-born electrical engineer and inventor, co-founded the American Electric Company in New Britain, Connecticut, in 1880 alongside Edwin Houston. Before his engineering career, Thomson served as the chemistry department chair at Philadelphia’s Central High School. Rice, a former student of Thomson, eventually became his assistant after deciding not to attend Yale University. The American Electric Company focused on developing patents, dynamos, and arc lamps, though it faced challenges with profit margins.